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2 Answers
2

If you are licensed to use the full Management Studio, I would install that. It has more features that will come in handy if you ever need to manage other SQL Server instances other than your local development/Express version. If you're not licensed or you know this is not a requirement, you can download Management Studio Express from here:

I do have a license for the fill Sql Server, just not wanting to put more than I need on the laptop.
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Daniel WilliamsSep 2 '11 at 23:56

4

For the difference that you will most certainly not notice, I'd rather have the full tool than a half-enabled one. Chances are you'll need the full version at a time when it's not convenient to uninstall SSMSE and install the full version (they can't co-exist).
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Aaron Bertrand♦Sep 2 '11 at 23:58

When you do the SQL Server install, you will come to a window that allows you to explicitly install specific components. There will be an option for management and performance tools (if you so choose to have profiler installed). Just keep those selected and not the db engine, etc.